Pathway to Praise

Sermon from cong. readings in Gen 30-49 – Jan 25, 2009  bk@kluth.org

 

1 - The PRIZE

Gen 37:2-4 Joseph, a young man of seventeen, was tending the flocks with his brothersand he brought their father a bad report about them.  Now Israel loved Joseph more than any of his other sons, because he had been born to him in his old age; and he made a richly ornamented robe for him.

 

 

2 - The PIT

Gen 37:4-5 When his brothers saw that their father loved him more than any of them, they hated him and could not speak a kind word to him.  Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers, they hated him all the more.

Gen 37:23-24, 26-27 When Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped him of his robe--the richly ornamented robe he was wearing--and they took him and threw him into the cistern.Judah said to his brothers, "What will we gain if we kill our brother and cover up his blood? Come, let's sell him to the Ishmaelites and not lay our hands on him; after all, he is our brother, our own flesh and blood." His brothers agreed.

 

 

3 - The PROSPERING

Gen 37:36, 39:2-5 The Midianites sold Joseph in Egypt to Potiphar, one of Pharaoh's officials, the captain of the guardThe LORD was with Joseph and he prospered, and he lived in the house of his Egyptian master. When his master saw that the LORD was with him and that the LORD gave him success in everything he did, Joseph found favor in his eyes and became his attendant. Potiphar put him in charge of his household, and he entrusted to his care everything he owned. From the time he put him in charge of his household and of all that he owned, the LORD blessed the household of the Egyptian because of Joseph. The blessing of the LORD was on everything Potiphar had, both in the house and in the field.

 

 

4 - The PRISON

Gen 39:6-9, 12, 20-23 Now Joseph was well-built and handsome, and after a while his master's wife took notice of Joseph and said, "Come to bed with me!"  But he refusedHow then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?"One dayshe caught him by his cloak and said, "Come to bed with me!" But he left his cloak in her hand and ran out of the house

Joseph's master took him and put him in prison, the place where the king's prisoners were confined.  But while Joseph was there in the prison, the LORD was with him; he showed him kindness and granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden. So the warden put Joseph in charge of all those held in the prison, and he was made responsible for all that was done there.  The warden paid no attention to anything under Joseph's care, because the LORD was with Joseph and gave him success in whatever he did.

 

 

5 - The PALACE

Gen 41:14-16, 39-40  Pharaoh sent for Joseph, and he was quickly brought from the dungeon. When he had shaved and changed his clothes, he came before Pharaoh.  Pharaoh said to Joseph, "I had a dream, and no one can interpret it. But I have heard it said of you that when you hear a dream you can interpret it."  "I cannot do it," Joseph replied to Pharaoh, "but God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires."Pharaoh said to Joseph, "Since God has made all this known to you, there is no one so discerning and wise as you. You shall be in charge of my palace, and all my people are to submit to your orders. Only with respect to the throne will I be greater than you."

 

 

6 - The PRAISE

Gen 45:4-7 Joseph said to his brothersDo not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of youit was not you who sent me here, but God.

 

 

 

SERMON CD's & CASSETTES are available on the lobby table after the

service OR watch video or listen to any of Brians sermons: www.1freechurch.org

A past sermon is on TV at 2:30 today: #6 (Comcast Cable), #51 (Non-cable)

1-YEAR-BIBLE DAILY READINGS: Gen 50-Ex 13, Mt 16-21, Ps 21-25